Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-10
xrw roHK FASHIONS.

The zsuls Of Three = spramg mata-
rsnas- Woaka-C essems -sAlks-mkiai-
merry. Flowers satsbenss
special Correspondence Of aeaetse and Joarnal
New YoHE, March S.--,Ihe fashionable
world will, this season, be ruled BY three
IDEAS checks, plaids and stripes. Much
of ssrni-dress will In consequence be en-
hibited on dress occasions, for say what
you please there 10 an essential inele-
Rance In these stiff lines, which may by
skilful adaptation and juxtaposition, ex'
press iauntiness, but never high refine-
ment. They may be made furthermore
to perfore arithmstical problems Of addi-
ton, satisfaction, multiplication or
division, but they never reach the soft
beauty of the lily, or breathe the poetry
Of the rose. stout people can seize upon
stripes, by which TO produce an optical
delusion Of slenderness; slender people
can broaden themselves by plaids, and by
the aid of all three, e great deal OF nsw
coquetry can be furnished up for the
summers campaign. Beyond this,
nothing The diagonal craze Of
the fall has, in great mea-
sure, succumbed to these three
thoughts. There are diagonals, but they
are not what they might have been
Serges are so woven, but fashion soon
goes of in the direction Of stripes or
bass. Cancels hair goods are brought
out In stripes for the lower part Of the
costume, with hair lines for the upper,
while other woods show combinations of
three. Large plaids for the lower skirt,
smaller for the upper, and plain goods
for the corsage. This thought, indeed,
finds repetition In all GLASSES of goods,
both silk and cotton. Ginghams Of
charming newness are white with narrow
stripes, set ct intervals, and both cottons
and woods are diversified by knotted
threads running transyersely or perpen-
dicularly; favorite idea being that Of
stripes for the lower part of the skirt
with plaida or cross-bers for the over
skirt, both combined for the oorsage.
FLOWERS.
But while three ideas rule, they are not
despotic and leave room for other things,
which indeed occasionally show as inter
lopers, even within the limit of lines, as
for example, where very small flowers are
set in stripes this being noticeable in all
Glasses of materials. Satteens again are
wrought In such skilled resemblance to
India silks that the eye Is readily de-
ceived. The same soft simmer, like
| gentle glow of color, an equal blending
| of harmonious hue and similar choice
/ of buds and blossoms. One asks IL these
can be cottons and II is no surprise to
learn that unlike cottons, they cannot
| descend to the wash tub, but must be
| cleaned by professionals. Yet as the
| ground works are colored, with careful
use they last for long time in good con
dition, and one cleaning does not cost
more than repeated laundryings. Stamped
challis are poems, presenting an Assem-.
blage of sprays and flowers, pretty
enough to soften the most cynical heart
and seem the destined clothing of fresh
young beauty. Silks complete the pic
ture, and with the peculiar prestige Of
| silk. Save us from sameness and teach
us lesson of superiority to straight
| lines, bars and cross bars, however modi
fed, as on many occasions by what il
called "broken barsn and the subtletiet
of French colorings. Lord & Taylor in.
form us furthermore that
| BoNNETs
are still narrow and high trimmed, hats
high with high garniture restin g sgainsI
the crown. For general wear, an assert.
ment of rough, Milan and satin straws,
| while dressier styles are of delicate fancy
straw or creations of net, or the embroid
cred gauze, that is 50 marked feature
in spring millinery. A great deal o.
trimming is done with 1t, and it is Otter
used instead of lace. The most note
worthy feature in millinery is, however
the revival of very small flowers fire.
quently set in coronets, but usually hav
ing high spray in the centre, or agair
one sees only spray of small flowers sup
ported by embroidery or feathers Othe
favorite flowers, not SO small, are the ON
nipresent rose and rosebud, hyacinth
and jonquils, acceptable because of higl
reared heads tulips xenias, buttercups ant
primroses sought after because of tbei
fashionable yellow; thistles and cat tails
because bristling and high. Ribbons ar
still with Topped edges, punches of tn
narrow (sometimes extr. mely SOY, pro
ducing the bristlirg effect SO coveted
while great novelty is brought about b
ribbons which are wrought in stripes O
different color and fabric set together
perhaps velvet, gross grain and satin
Unique ribbons are quite narrow and ar
composed of extremely small floral pal
terms with pronounced loops on bot
sides. Other ribbons are conspicuousl
plaided and when wide, give look {
/ great boltne5a to she front trimming, Cfo
still in vogue are The nigh topped bow
| | 10 frunLl or when IN rlF eaNpletc n
jauniiness of which plaids are capable.
SPRING WRAPS
are extremely short at the back reachin
little, if any, below the waist line, bu
with long, pointed ends in front. Th
great popularity of jet trimming, CAUSES
demand for plain material since that onl
is capable of properly showing off IL
rich independent pieces, or the one, gran
collar with sharp pointed ends in frol
and reaching to the shoulders. jacket
are far less expensive and in large deman
for young ladies with slender figure
Close fitting, usually single breaste,
short on the hips and in the back, wit
high standing collar. Independent JACKIE
are of mixed cloth, in inconspicuou
shades of gray, brown or blue an
in small check patterns, but
j very favorite idea is to ha,
9 cloth jacket TO complete Il
. costume. l can never mention JACKIE
\ without the inclination to warn sto
B people, whether old or young, again
them. To we'll developed middle-ag,
woman they are disastrous and for th
& latter class will come raglans of Zig
Il cloth, especially becoming to them al
far more so than newmarket shape
which belong to the slender. High hal
Il huge bustles, choked necks, yet anoth
IF season. No great change in outli